Metal bending tool



G, M. sMrrH 2,687,162 METAL BENDING TOOL 3 Sheets-Sheet l FIR I Ii;

Aug. 24, 1954 Filed June f2s, 195o ATTORNE YS.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 G. M. SMITH METAL BENDING TOOL INVENTOR: George M. Smzth @WW ci( ATTO R'NEYS.

Aug. 24, 1954 Filed June 29, 1950 Aug. 24, 1954 G. M. SMITH METAL BENDING Toor.

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 29, 1950 Frei.

INVENTOR. George M. 5mzth @www ef ad/ ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 24, 1954 George M. Smith, Grafton,

Smith Corporation, Mil

ration of New York Wis., assignor to A. O. waukee, Wis., a corpo- Application June Z9, 1950, Serial No. 171,017

1 Claim. l

This invention relates to a metal bending tool, and particularly to a tool for edging or flanging sheet metal.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a metal bending tool that has relatively few component parts and` which therefore will not be subject to breakdowns sometimes found with metal bending tools of a more complicated nature.

Another object is to provide a metal bending tool of a construction such that it may be operated with great rapidity.

A further object is to provide a metal bending tool that is of simple and rugged construction, that is relatively easy to build, and which does not require the employment of a plurality of cams to operate the Itool.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings; 3

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the tool of the invention applied to an edge of sheet metal stock prior to bending the same with parts being `broken away and sectioned;

liig.` 2 is a View similar to Fig. l but showing the relative positions of various component parts of the device of the invention after an edge of the sheet metal stock has been iianged or bent,` Fig. 3 is a plan view of the metal bending tool with the parts shown in the position of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the frame; Fig. 5 is an end elevation looking from the left at Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational View of the pull bracket; and

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of the pull bracket. The structure of the invention comprises a generally G-shaped frame I, a pull bracket 2 which is trunnioned to a slider 3 that moves in response to the turning of a hand wheel 4. The pull bracket is removably secured to the edge of a sheet of metal stock which edge is to be turned or flanged. The metal immediately adjacent the edge of the flat sheet is secured between a suitably shaped die and a support which forms part of the C-shaped frame, The pull bracket being pivoted, is capableof turning about its pivot and as this movement occurs the edge of the metal sheet is bent or turned to the desired shape.

The frame I comprises a pair of substantially C-shaped. side walls 5 and B which are spaced apart and secured preferably by welding, near their upper extremities to a tube 1. The tube serves a dual function in that it not only acts as a spacing means for the side walls but also as a journal for the head of an elongated screw as will be more fully explained later. A plurality of gussets 8 extend between the tube l and the inner surfaces of side walls 5 and 6 and serve to form a rigid and unitary structure at the upper end of the frame. The frame is further strengthened by reinforcing members 9 disposed adjacent the inner edge of the C-shaped side walls 5 and 6. A cross-brace Ill extends between the side walls and is secured thereto to provide additional strength and rigidity.

Thelower ends of the side walls are spaced apart and have secured thereto, preferably by Welding, a pair of vertical cross-braces II and a pair of horizontal cross-braces l2. The upper of the latter pair is threaded for the reception of a suitable bolt to anchor the metal bending tool to a support or the like.

Work tables or supports I3 and I are horizontally disposed at either side of the -device and are secured to the skeleton-like framework by a plurality of strengthening ribs or gussets and are strengthened by angularly shaped ribs disposed underneath the same. The supports extend outwardly for a relatively short distance beyond the base of the device and serve to hold the sheet metal stock upon which an edge or flange is to be turned. A suitable die I5 is generally disposed on the metal stock to give the desired curvature between the main body of the sheet metal and the l flange as the latter is bent or formed along the edge of the sheet.

Suitable means are disposed above the members I3 and It to aid in removably securing the metal stock while it is being operated upon. In the embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, :this means is a horizontally disposed bar I6 having a plurality of vertical threaded apertures extending therethrough. The bar I6 extends through depending portions of the frame of the device as best seen in Figs. 4 and 5, and is secured to the latter preferably 'by Welding. The above referred to vertically disposed apertures are so spaced in relation to the framework of' the device that easy access may be had to the heads of threaded bolts I1 which extend downwardly through the apertures and bear on blo-cks I 8 disposed between the lower end of the bolts and the die I5.

The pull bracket 2 comprises a pair of spaced side walls I9 and 20 which are substantially tri'- angularly shaped. As best seen in Fig. 6, the lowermost portions of the side walls project horizontally to form supports 2I and 22 to which is secured, preferably by welding, a horizontally disposed pid-te 2'3. This plate 23 is provided with extend outwardly from the outer surfaces of body 26. The trunnions are disposedwithinlth'e aperture 25 in the side walls 'ofthepull bracket prior to assembly of the latter. After the slider has been assembled between the side wallsof the pull bracket the unit may be Yformed into a unitary structure by welding the slotted plate 213 lto the supports 2| and 22. The welding of these membersiscarried out so that all .welds arevdisrposedunder the lower surface of the slotted plate ,in order that the welds will notoccasion any interference with other structure to be later described.

The structure provided for causing pivotal movement of the pull bracket 2 around the trun- .nion-s and which in turn provides for turningof the edge of the sheet metal stock comprises an elongated threaded screw shaft 33 having a transversely apertured head 3l .disposed at the'upper lendfthereof and freely journalled on the tube The screw shaft 3B is of somewhat lesser diameter than the aperture 27 of the slider so that the shaft vmay be disposed therein to slide freely.

An elongated interiorly threaded hollow tube 32 having the hand wheel t fixed at the outerend thereof functions in conjunction with the screw shaft 33 4to move the slider along the latter as the threaded tube 32 is screwed along the shaft by virtue of rotation of the hand wheel. To effect `this feed the opposite or open en'd of the tube 3?. is provided with a shoulder 33 which abuts a washer 3d engaging the lower end of the slider.

A notched clamping xture35 of suitable configuration is removably secured to the supports 2.! and 22 of the pull bracket by inserting elongated bolts in either side of slotted plate 23 to removably secure the clamping fixture to the latter.

.One edge-of the clampingxture is notched or l provided with acut out portion 33for receiving the edge of the metal stock which is to beturned .,.orflanged Immediately below the nOtChSGthe #lower portion of the fixture 4is `provided with threaded apertures for receiving `bolts 31 or theA like,`the inner ends of whchbear againstablock 4 38 to removably yet securely anchor the edge of the sheet which is to be turned.

After the work is securely clamped in the fixture, the tube 32 is rotated by the hand wheel 4 and its threads co-operating with the threads of the shaft 33 cause the slider 3 to move along the screw shaft. The slider being trunnioned to '.the side vlvvalls of the pull f'bracket 2, pivotal imov-ementfof the latterfabout the trunnions 28 and 29 takes place and one edge of the metal f-'stock which is clamped in the xture 35, is ,turned or flanged in response to the upward `movement and inward rotation of the pull bracket, as shown inFig. 2.

.Therabove description of a preferred embodiment of theiinvention provides a metal bending tool comprised of a relatively few component parts, `a structure which is of a sturdy construction and a metal bending tool that is capable of being operated with great rapidity.

Various embodiments of the invention may be employed .withinthe scope of the accompanying claim.

Iclaim:

A tool for bending the edge of sheet metal which.comprises a frame having a pair of spaced substantially C-shaped members joined at the upperportions thereof by a horizontally extending brace, an elongated exteriorly threadedshaft pivoted at one end tosaid brace and threaded at the other end into a tube adapted to be rotated thereon, clamping means carried vby KYsaid C- `shaped members `to clamp the body portion of the sheet metal with the free edge to be bent extending within the entrance of the C-shaped member, a second `clamping means disposed inside the C-shaped members and free to rotate therein, said ,second clamping means having a pair ofjaws adapted to receive and hold'the edge of the sheet to be bent, a'hollow slider pivoted to the second clamping .means and freely encircling said 'shaft ahead of the tube, and means to rotate the "tubeandthread the shaft into the `.same to push'the 'slider forward andpivot the second elampingmeanslaround the rst clamping means for vshaping the edge of the sheet.

fieferencesfCited -in the file of this patent 'UNITED 'STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 536,437 .-Miskolczy Mar. 26, 1895 itil-30,259 Wells June 18,1912 1,556,166 Sievert Oct. 6, 1925 1,953,842 AWearne Apr. 3,1934 2,016,981 Berliner Oct. 8, 1935 2,301,643* lSachse Nov. 10,1942 

